Madison College’s women’s basketball team had a case of déjà vu in the first quarter of their NJCAA Region 4 Division III semifinal matchup against Joliet Junior College, a team they had lost to three days earlier to end the regular season.
Like that 23-point regular season loss, Joliet again raced out to a big first quarter lead and then held off the WolfPack the rest of the way.
This time, Joliet claimed a 68-52 victory over visiting Madison College on Feb. 18 to eliminate the WolfPack from postseason play.
Madison College finished the season with a 5-19 record, marking the fewest wins in program history.
Joliet held a 21-9 lead after 10 minutes of play, and expanded its lead in both the second and third quarters.
Taylor Ripp, a freshman guard, scored a career-best 25 points on 12 of 19 shooting to lead Madison College.
Sophomore Olivia Marron posted 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in her final game as a two-sport athlete at Madison College. Marron, who also played for the WolfPack volleyball team, ended the season averaging a team-high 12.7 points per game.
The game marked the end of the coaching career of WolfPack coach Lois Heeren, who is retiring after 34 years of coaching at the collegiate level. In her six years at Madison College, Heeren’s teams totaled an 82-54 record.
Joliet advanced to face top-seeded Rock Valley College in the Region 4 championship and lost, 54-48.